Slurry valve



Jan. 19, 1960 c. H. BROOKS 2,921,721

SLURRY VALVE Filed Dec. 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

- INVENTOR. CHARLES H. BROOKS brfii'o. 3 Ha I AT ORNEY Jan. 19, 1960 Filed Dec. 19, 1958 C. H. BROOKS SLURRY VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES H, BROOKS Vida. fifi mi ATTORNEY i I 2,921,121] sLURRYvALvE Charles H. Brooks, Swarthmore, Pa., assignor to Sun Oil fompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New ApplicationDecember 19, 1958, Serial No. 781,554

- 3 Claims. '(Cl. 222-368) Thepresent invention relates'to a valve mechanism for the transfer of comminuted solids between zones of different pressures, in general, and, specifically, to a rotatable form of such valve in which spaced apart troughs receive the solidsand are emptied by the pressure of liquid properly delivered to the trough area.

In the petroleum and chemical industries particularly, slurries of liquid suspended solidsare frequently met. The liquid component is readily removed by standard use of valves. The solid particles, however, cannot successfully be passed through standard valves. One reason for such limitation is the release of pressure in the zone supporting the comminuted solids. Another is the tendency for the solid particles to unduly wear the valve structure and to clog the moving elements, usually preventing secure closure of the valve. It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a valve for operably transferring comminuted solids between zones of difierent pressures.

A further object is to provide a valve which will transfer the solid particles, yet maintain the pressure differential existing between the separate zones.

Yet another object is to provide a valve which is washed free of the solid particles so transferred, preventing clogging of the valve ports and insuring trouble-free and clean operation.

And yet a further object of this invention is to provide a valve for the transfer of comminuted solids between different pressure zones, in which the contacting surfaces are continuously subjected to the action of pressured cleaning liquids, and the portion of the transferred solids to be emptied from the valve is removed from the valve by the directed effect of such pressured liquid.

These objects and others are accomplished by the present invention. Broadly described, this invention comprises a rotary valve element supported axially, transverse the outlet path from the slurry containing vessel. A plurality of spaced-apart troughs extend longitudinally of the rotary element, providing successive depositories .for receipt of r the slurry solids. with an outlet from the slurry vessel, and with a connection to the receiver of the solid particles. Both the inside of the valve body supporting the rotary valve element, and the troughs of that element, provide liquid confining spaces behind sintered porous metal lining elements, allowing pressured wash liquid compatible with the slurry and chemical process to clean the contact surfaces and successively expel the slurry solids from the valve troughs.

The above broadly-described structure with its indicated objects will be better understood from the following description, read in conjunction with the several figures of the drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view showing a typical apparatus connection in which the valve of this invention is used;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device taken on line 22 of Figure 3.

These troughs are spaced to register 2,921,721 Patented Jan. 19, '1960 Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device, partly broken away, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2. I

Referring to Figure 1, the valve of this invention, generally denoted by the numeral 10, is shown connected across the slurry outlet 12 of vessel 14. Outlet 12 becomes the slurry inlet of valve 10, which conveys the slurry to valve outlet 16; Motor 18, mechanically connected to valve shaft'20, operates valve 10 in response to power from a source (not shown). Liquid compatible with the chemical requirement of the slurry passed through valve 10, is admitted, under pressure, to the vale through conduit 22.

Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, show the elements of valve 10 in operable engagement. A valve body 24, shown in Figure 2, with spaced apart inlet 26 and outlet 28, supports a rotatable cylindrical member 30. Shaft 20 extends through body endclosure 32 to engage member 30 and operably supports this element by resting in bearing 34 supported by the body end closure 36. To facilitate replacement and repair, inlet 26 and outlet 28 are shown flanged for easy and rapid insertion and removal.

. Cylindrical member 30 is divided into spaced-apart troughs 40, which for purposes of this description are indicated as even in number about the periphery, as indicated in Figure 3, but may be odd in number if desired. Each trough is lined with a sintered porous metal cover 42, spaced from the bottom and ends of the trough to provide a liquid passage 44. As indicated in Figures 2 and 4, the sintered porous metal sheet forming the cover is bent to anchor it firmly in place, and also to present a contact surface to a like liner 46 inside the valve body 24.

This body liner 46 is also spaced to provide a liquid transpassage 50 receives the liquid from conduit 22 and sup plies it under pressure to the trough space 44, and through trough feed passages 44', only as each trough is rotated to an emptying position. A branch passage 52 conducts the pressured liquid from passage 50 through the body to continuously supply the body spaces 48.

From the above, it will be evident that the valve body is constantly receiving pressured liquid behind the porous metal surfaces 46 which contact the rotating element 30. As the liquid is received at a pressure higher than the process pressure, slurry solids are prevented from seating in the contact area. As the rotatable member is rotatedfrom the inlet 26 where the slurry is received to the outlet 28, no pressured liquid is transmitted behind the trough sintered porous metal covers until that emptying position is reached. When trough feed passage 44 is in registry with pressured liquid passage 50 in the valve body, full liquid pressure is received and the slurry solids are forced from the trough into outlet 28. No other trough is receiving this full liquid pressure. This leaves the slurry in such other troughs undisturbed at this time. It will be evident that the pressure at which the so-called pressuring liquid is delivered to the valve 10 is determined by the pressures of the process and emptying zones. Either ascending or descending pressure relationships are possible with the described device.

One form of the device for exemplifying the disclosed invention is illustrated and described. It will be evident to those versed in the art that other forms are possible. Although an even number of troughs are shown, an odd number may be used if desired.

I claim: 7 a Y 1. A valve for the transfer of liquid-supported solids between zones of different pressures, comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet in spaced relation; a rotatable cylindrical member operably located trausver'seIaJdal relation to the inlet and outlet, said member having a plurality of spaced-apart troughs inxthe periphery thereof,

the troughs and spaces being located tolalterna'te-iu registering with the inlet and outlet ofthebo y", a-sintered metal lining in said body providing a support for the cylindrical member and spaced from the body to allow the circulation of liquid therebetween, sintered -nietal trough covers spaced from the cylindrical member troughs pro- 'viding liquid circulation passages, means connected to said cylindrical member to rotate the same; and passages in said body and cylindrical member directing liquid to the sintered metal covered portions, 1 Y 7 f V 2. A valve for the transfer of liquid-supported solids from a zone of higher pressure to a zone of relatively lower pressure, comprising a body having an inlet and outlet; a rotatable cylindrical member operably located in transverse axial relation to the inlet and outlet, 'said member having a plurality of spaced-apart troughs in the cylindrical surface thereof; a sintered metallining in said body between the inlet and outlet Shaped to contact the cylindrical member and spaced from the body to provide a liquid circulating space between it and said body, additional sintered metal porous linings for each of the troughs 4 a .w I

in the cylindrical member spaced to provide a liquid circulating space between the last-mentioned linings'and the troughs of said cylindrical member, a rotatable shaft extending through the body to operably engage the cylindr-ical member, and passage means connected to the liquid circulating spaces to distribute pressured liquid to the sintered metal lined areas: e

3. A valve for the transfer (illiquid-supported solids from a zone of high pressure to'azone of relatively lower pressure, comprising a body having an opposed inlet and outlet; a rotatable. cylindrical r nemberailially iseased transverse the flow path between the'inlet and outlet of a said body, said cylindrical member having a plurality of troughs disposed "on the surface and peripherally spaced; a sintered metal lining disposed in said body between the inlet and outlet providing an operating contact surface for the rotatable cylindrical member, and spaced from the a body to provide a fluid circulationpassage therebetween;

Norf'erences cited; 

